Business has gone mobile. Laptops began the evolution of the
modern workday by helping us take our digital lives on the go, letting
productivity thrive even while in transit. Then came handheld computers and
cellular phones that seemed to have a never-ending list of features and
utilities. They would soon surpass the convenience of other mobile devices to
become the widespread phenomena known as “smart phones.” Websites now all seem
to have a mobile doppelganger made specifically for smart phones, and Wi-Fi
hotspots are popping up everywhere businesspeople might meet for lunch or
coffee.
With all this data rushing through the airwaves, it’s not a
surprise that someone has found a way to take advantage of smart phone
technology. Visage
Mobile highlighted new risks to smart phone security in a blog post this
past Monday. A report released by cell phone security firm SMobile Systems
revealed the disturbing ease with which hackers can intercept sensitive data
sent via four of the most-popular models of smart phones: the Android G1, IPhone
3GS, HTC Tilt and Nokia N95.
The problem lies in the lack of security present in most
smart phone technology and the lack of encryption in most Wi-Fi hotspots. With
simple and widely available software, a knowledgeable hacker can easily
intercept any data transmitted between an unsecured smart phone and an
unencrypted wireless signal—including personal financial and identifying
information or any information an employee may enter to access business websites
or documents on-the-go. By accessing business data at the wrong place and time,
employees using their smart phones could put themselves, their employers, and their
clients at risk.
Until these security issues are addressed in smart phone
technology, these hacking techniques present one more immediate threat to business
and personal security—and just one more reason why businesses should protect
their operations by implementing comprehensive fraud prevention services.